CCC vs Nomads

Bank Holiday weekend in the UK means that the Michael Blumberg and his Nomads are in town, playing Chantilly on the Saturday. A lot of rain had fallen in the morning, to the extent that a lot of mumbo-jumbo was going around as to whether the game would be on. However, the fact that the afternoon’s mumbo-jumbo forecast was slightly better and that this was president Lee’s final outing for Chantilly meant that this game really had to go ahead – mumbo-jumbo, or not.

Chantilly won the toss and put the visitors in to bat for this 35 over match.

Farrell and Hardy opened and put together a very stable platform. The run rate was not that high – around 4-an-over – but it was not at all obvious how to get either of them out. Eddy Hoyle and Patrick Clarke bowled through their initial stretches of 5 overs without making the batsmen’s lives too uncomfortable.

Finally, in the 17th over Farrell gave a ball from Heard the charge, and Denzil Homer completed a straightforward stumping. 2 overs later Jack Hardy pulled to square leg – but directly at Rob Oakley, who held on to the ball.
At the other end, Pretsell had come into the attack. For some reason we had to wait until his 5th ball to be treated to his special “no-ball-over-the-batsman’s-head”.

The Nomads continued to bat well with Johnson and Sivandran putting together a useful 3rd wicket partnership. The run rate was on the increase; Sivandran looking especially dangerous, hitting Nick Clarke for a 4 and then a 6 the next ball. Time to bring back the openers…

Hoyle broke through with his 2nd ball, bowling Johnson for 30. And Patrick Clarke – who looked so much better in this second spell – took 2 wickets in his first over: that of Sivandran (breaking the bail for fun) and a first-baller for Gangwani. In his next and final over he also bowled Kiswani for a duck and 149 for 2 had been transformed into 160 for 6.

This was Surya Azad’s first game for Chantilly – the first of many hopefully, if he hangs around in France. He describes himself as a batter, who can bowl a little. He came on to bowl a few overs at the end of the game and although he didn’t pick up a wicket, he showed us very clearly how useful he could be at our level of the game.

Azad, with Nick Clarke and Pretsell alternating at the other end, managed to keep the lid on the Nomad’s innings. Lee Pretsell picked up the final wicket of the innings, that of our Embassy friend, Praneeth.

So at the end of the 35 overs, Nomads were at 177 for 7. Chantilly would need to be on form to win this one – just as well all our guys had been practising hard over the summer recess.

A fine spread was provided by the Clarkes. To be noted: Some very complementary comments were received from the opposition regarding the Victoria sponge cake.

Nick Clarke and Patrick Heard opened the Chantilly innings. Bowling from Praneeth and Sivandran was tight and the first wicket fell (Heard, bowled through the garden gate) at the end of Sivandran’s 1st over without a run having been scored off the bat.

Azad came in at 3 and looked comfortable and positive in his stroke play. Together with Clarke they put on 48 for the 2nd wicket. All was going swimmingly until Praneeth had Azad edging one to the wicketkeeper. In Praneeth’s next over he bowled Pretsell who brought his Chantilly career to an end with a duck.

Clarke was caught by Hardy for fine 22 as was Hoyle for 12; this one a superb diving effort at long on. Chantilly’s reply, sitting at 68 for 5 was shaken.

Canny bowling by old-timers Johnson and Ormiston had limited the runs that had been further disrupted by the fall of wickets. There was no Chantilly collapse, but with 10 overs to go, CCC needed to up the rate to almost 8-an-over.

Chantilly welcomed back one of its old-timers as well. With the captain struggling to get 11 players for the game Nick Shepherd donned whites, looked the part and was batting very nicely thank you. Having put the effort to get Shepherd to play, Rob Oakley then put in further effort to get him to stop playing again, by running him out. (It’s nothing personal Nick – don’t let it get you down - I’ve run out other people in the past in similar circumstances, including my own wife).

8 wickets down, 8 overs to bat through and still 67 to win… Unfortunately, Chantilly’s tail is not yet developed enough to wag to this extent. Denzil Homer played 2 or 3 “pivotal” fours. Jack Oakley blocked impassively and Jack and Jean François salvaged a little Chantilly pride in still being there at the end unbeaten.

Final score at the end of 35 overs: 138 for 9 – Chantilly down by 39 runs.

Man of the match was undoubtedly Jack Hardy with 42 runs, 2
catches and a run-out. He might now live in Germany, but we look forward to him being a thorn in our side from time to time in the future.

Afterwards, along with a beer, there was a brief presentation from CCC to their out-going president, thanking him for his work for the club over the last 3 years. A photograph of the team – to be hung in the toilet – was passed on, to encourage Lee and the family relax when under pressure.
I’ll leave you with a few final quotes from club members and friends:

Sue Oakley: We love you lots but please take that wretched dog with you

Patrick Heard: If ever we need another useless bowler, we’ll be in touch